Athletics

It's Time

N Our Voice by Sam Hoiberg

It's TimeScott Bruhn

If you’re a basketball fan, you know nothing compares to March.

Growing up, I had the unique privilege of having a front-row seat watching my dad pace the sidelines at the NCAA Tournament.

Those are memories I’ll hold on to forever and remember for the rest of my life.

But March 2024 might just be the best March yet.

My dad will still be on the sidelines at the NCAA Tournament, but this time, I’ll be playing for him.

When I committed to Nebraska three years ago, playing for Dad on the biggest stage in March is what we both had in mind and looked forward to the most.

I could go on and on about how special it will be for us both, but to be honest with you, this is bigger than us.

Playing Texas A&M tonight, our team has an opportunity to do something that’s never been done before in getting that first elusive NCAA Tournament win for the Nebraska basketball program.

We understand it’s not going to be easy or given to us; we’re going to have to work hard for it.

But I also believe I’ve been preparing for this moment and this game for my entire life.

From watching my dad’s teams play, fighting tooth and nail with my twin brother, Charlie, in almost everything we did, and loving the game for as long as I can remember, I’m going to do what I always do and give it everything I have.

I don’t know any other way.

Iron sharpens iron

My competitive fire started at a young age. When you’re a twin, there really isn’t another option.

Before going to bed each night, Charlie and I would do 50 push-ups and 50 crunches.

If either one of us got caught trying to sneak an extra rep in, naturally, that’s when we’d get angry with each other and fights would break out.

Like any sibling rivalry, we constantly wanted to have an edge over each other, you know?

There was another time when we were playing golf at a tournament. I ended up beating him by a stroke, and he got so mad that he jumped off the golf cart and went on a dead sprint back to the clubhouse.

As much as we hate losing to each other, we also share a bond that could never be replaced.

We’ve always been a dynamic duo. Playing on the same high school team together was everything I thought it’d be and more.

We complemented each other so well on the court, and our chemistry combined with our competitive spirit created some of my favorite moments on the hardwood.

When we weren’t on the same team and were competing against each other, I’m confident that every fight, argument and scrap helped shape me into the person and player I am today.

I’m never going to be the tallest guard around, but thanks to my competitive upbringing with Charlie, this gave me the mental strength and intensity that it takes for a player of my size to succeed at the DI level in the Big Ten.

A winning culture

Heading into the NCAA Tournament game, with the successful season we’ve had, everyone sees this as the year we put it all together and got over the hump, and they’re not wrong.

But last year is the year we set the culture of this program.

We wanted to get players that didn’t care about their numbers or stats. If they had a bad game, it didn’t bother them as long as we won.

Unfortunately, some injuries prevented us from achieving our goals, but I honestly believe that our success this year wouldn’t have been possible without the “we not me” culture we established last season.

That being said, we also had some great players come in this season that have bought into that culture and pushed us forward.

I can’t say enough good things about newcomers like Rienk, Brice, Josiah and everyone else.

As talented as they are, they’re completely selfless and are willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win.

I think that mindset is something that’s changed within the program these past couple of years, and it's led to us having a tremendous amount of success with an unbelievable coaching staff that puts us in positions to thrive.

I redshirted during the 2021-22 season, so to play an active role in being a part of this culture and hopefully taking Nebraska to places they’ve never been before in this sport, has been incredibly rewarding and the honor of my career so far.

Picking me up

As great of a season as we’ve had, no matter what your record is, the course of the basketball season is a grind that’s filled with plenty of ups and downs.

This probably goes back to my upbringing with Charlie, but I’m not one who takes losses well at all.

We’ve had a few road games this season that we should’ve won, and that sinking feeling on the plane ride home after a loss is just miserable.

That’s why I’m so blessed to have such a great support system to pick me up during these times when I’m feeling down over a tough loss and how I played.

It’s one of those things where, if we win, I’ll probably get 100 texts after the game.

If we lose, I might only have about two or three.

But it’s those texts that I receive after a loss that I appreciate the most knowing I have people in my corner that are going to help me get through this and move on to the next game.

It’s another reason why I play as hard as I do because I’m not playing basketball at Nebraska without their love and support, so living out my dreams playing for my dad is not something I take for granted.

I want nothing more than to make my family and friends proud for as much as they’ve given me throughout my life.

Shooting for a legacy

Needless to say, it’s been a special season in Lincoln.

Finishing third in the Big Ten with an 18-1 record at home is something every player on this team takes pride in.

But the job is not finished.

If we go into this tournament and lose right away, we’re just going to be another one of those teams that “could have been.”

And we don’t want to be that team.

This team has way too much talent and belief in one another for that.

Winning 23 games this year was amazing, and I speak for all the guys in saying how much we enjoyed each one of those victories, but that’s not what people are going to remember.

Husker Nation and the college basketball world is going to remember when Nebraska basketball gets their first-ever tournament win.

That’s what’s going to leave a legacy.

There isn’t a group of guys I’d rather do this with, and there isn’t a coach I’d rather play for.

I can’t promise you we’ll make history tonight, but I can assure you no matter what happens, we’re going to make every play count and lay it all on the floor.